THE SEMINAR OPENED WITH A BRIEF INTRODUCTION SUMMARIZING THE HISTORY OF PROBATION AS A SENTENCING OPTION AND NOTING THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST PUBLIC SEMINAR ON THE SUBJECT TO BE HELD IN NEW SOUTH WALES. AN OFFICIAL FROM THE NEW SOUTH WALES DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIVE SERVICES FOCUSED ON THE DEVELOPMENT, ORGANIZATION, AND EXISTING PRACTICES OF THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT AND GAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS. ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE CORRECTIVE SERVICES THEN DISCUSSED THE FUNCTION OF THE PRESENTENCE REPORT, A PRETRIAL EVALUATION OF AN OFFENDER'S MOTIVES AND PROBLEMS THAT IS CONDUCTED BY PROBATION OFFICERS AT THE REQUEST OF THE COURT. DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROBATION WERE EXPRESSED BY MEMBERS OF THE LAW FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY WITH ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY BY A MAGISTRATE. THE SEMINAR CONCLUDED WITH A DISCUSSION WHICH INCLUDED COMMENTS FROM OTHER PERSONS INVOLVED IN THE PROBATION PROCESS. (MJM)